Relationships and Families

LGBT soldiers share the same allowances as their straight colleagues. This means that pay, pension and maternity/paternity/adoption leave is the same. Those in civil partnerships have the same rights as married couples, including the right to family accommodation.

Civil partnership – Army recognition and allowances

The Army treats soldiers in a civil partnership in the same way that it treats married straight couples. Soldiers who chose to tie the knot are well integrated into Army life: attending functions, living ‘on the patch’, and benefiting from allowances that are available to married people.

The Army recognises the civil partners of soldiers, ensuring that all allowances for straight and LGB couples are the same. Access to allowances is determined by the Personal Status code (‘PSTAT’) that everyone in the Army has. Personnel who are married or in a civil partnership are given the code: PSTAT 1. The code does not distinguish between marriage and civil partnership so it cannot be used to identify LGBT personnel.

Types of benefit and allowances available include:
a. Tax benefits
b. Pension benefits
c. Paternity/maternity leave
d. Adoption leave
e. Housing
f. Travel costs if living apart in the working week
g. Advice and welfare support to civil partners when their soldier deploys.

More advice is contained in:
“JSP 752 Triservice Regulations on Allowances”
“JSP 760 Leave and Absence”
“2011DIN07-098”
(all available on DII and ArmyNet)

If it doesn’t work out – getting help and dissolving a civil partnership
If you find that your relationship is struggling you might like to get some outside help. Relate is a charity that has, historically, assisted married couples. They have expanded their service and provide advice to LGBT couples:http://www.relate.org.uk/home/index.html.

When a marriage or civil partnership ends all assets (money and belongings) are shared out. Soldiers may find that their partner has earned the right to a share of the money set aside in their Army pension; further information about this is available here.

If you are ending your partnership you must inform you chain of command who will adjust your PSTAT category.

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The Army LGBT Forum exists to promote a work environment in which Army personnel, including its LGBT personnel feel supported and valued, enabling them to fulfill their career potentials and to contribute fully to the benefit of the Service.